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Bilateral absence of the common iliac artery is an extremely rare congenital vascular malformation in which the distal aorta divides directly into two external iliac arteries and two internal iliac arteries. In the case of the presence of this vascular malformation in association with an aortic aneurysm, preservation of the internal iliac artery flow during endovascular aortic repair represents a technical challenge. We have reported a case in which the bilateral absence of the common iliac artery associated with an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm was successfully treated by endovascular aortic repair using commercially available iliac branched devices to maintain pelvic perfusion.

Summary The effects of cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) feeding on the methane (CH4) emission and the ruminal microbiome of Lai Sind beef cattle were investigated. Changes in the methane production and rumen microbiome by CNSL feeding were monitored by a respiration chamber and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing respectively. The results demonstrated that CNSL feeding mitigated 20.2%–23.4% of the CH4 emission in vivo without apparent adverse effects on feed intake and feed digestibility. The rumen fluid analysis revealed a significant increase in the proportion of propionate in the total short‐chain fatty acids. The relative abundance of methanogen (order Methanobacteriales) decreased significantly, indicating the direct inhibitory effect of CNSL on methanogens. The predicted function of the rumen microbiome indicated that carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms including propionate production were upregulated by CNSL feeding, whereas CH4 metabolism was downregulated. A network analysis revealed that methanogen changed its partner bacteria after CNSL feeding. The δ13C of CH4 ranged from −74.2‰ to −66.6‰ with significant fluctuation by CNSL feeding, in agreement with the shift of the rumen microbiome. Our findings demonstrate that CNSL feeding can mitigate the CH4 emission from local cattle production systems in South‐East Asia by modifying the rumen microbiome and its function.

The role of renewable and fossil fuel energy consumption on environmental sustainability remains inconclusive due to varied economic and technological structure. This study provides new insight by assessing the nexus between the utilization of two energy categories — renewable and conventional, environmental quality and economic growth embodying capital, trade openness and government expenditure. A panel data of 45 Emerging Market and Developing Economies (EMDEs) from 1990 to 2014 was employed in the study. We applied heterogeneous panel data approach and second-generational econometric techniques that permit cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity. The evaluation of long-term effects conducted by AMG, along with CCEMG and MG estimators revealed that besides other factors such as government expenditure, capital, and trade openness, non-renewable and renewable energy utilization significantly contributes to the economic growth of the selected EMDEs. The study acknowledges the trade-off effect between environmental quality and economic growth. Using Dumitrescu and Hurlin test, we found strong evidence to support the feedback hypotheses among renewable energy, consumption of conventional fuels, economic growth and CO2emissions. From a policy perspective, the empirical findings recommend the implementation of effective policies that promote green power and economic structural adjustment in order to diminish the level of atmospheric CO2 emissions.

A common limitation of the studies on the exchange rate-trade balance linkage is ignoring the USD’s role as a vehicle currency. Some recent papers have recognized this gap and proposed a hypothesis that the neglection of the USD’s role as a vehicle currency can restrict the significance of findings. This study aims to test that hypothesis in the trade between each of the 10 countries in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) with the whole EU-28. Specifically, this paper is the first to examine how the vehicle currency USD’s exchange rates, along with the real effect exchange rates, asymmetrically impact the trade balance of each ASEAN country with the EU-28 by employing the NARDL method to investigate whether the ignorance of the USD leads to fewer significant coefficients of exchange rates. The results indicate that the vehicle currency model (VCER) outperforms the real effective exchange rate (REER) model, which supports the hypothesis. In addition, the results are robust when controlling for the role of exchange rate volatility.

The relationship between exchange rate and trade balance has been spotlighted in the past several decades and thus examined by manifold research. The findings, however, lack of consensus despite the intensive efforts in investigating the role of exchange rate as an important determinant of trade balance in various countries. Although the existing papers are abundant, most of them neglect the role of vehicle currency. Besides, few articles are dedicated to Vietnam, and none has inspected the exchange rate-trade balance nexus between Vietnam and the EU. This study is the first to scrutinize how bilateral exchange rates, together with vehicle currency exchange rate, asymmetrically impact Vietnam's bilateral trade balance with respect to EU-27 countries and the UK. The NARDL estimation results strongly acknowledge the importance of USD as vehicle currency when more significant short-run and long-run coefficients are found. Accordingly, this article can provide some useful implications for policy-makers, especially when Vietnam was first labelled currency manipulator by the USA in December 2020. Particularly, USD/VND movement can affect not only Vietnam-USA but also Vietnam-EU and Vietnam-UK trade balance. In addition, VND appreciation against USD seems beneficial to Vietnam's bilateral trade with the EU plus the UK.

We have designed an excellent visible-light-driven and high-performance photocatalyst with a Ag-Cu2O-ZnO nanowire heterostructure in our work by combining the hydrothermal approach with plasma–liquid technology. The structural and morphological characteristics and optical properties of the samples were evaluated using X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and spectrophotometry, respectively. The results show that the Ag nanoparticles are mainly positioned on the Cu2O nanoclusters compared with the ZnO nanowire surface, forming broccoli-like Ag-Cu2O nanoclusters during the Ar gas plasma treatment process in an aqueous solution. The diameter of the Ag/Cu2O nanoclusters ranges from 150 to 180 nm. The Ag-Cu2O-ZnO nanowires exhibited improved photocatalytic performance, decomposing approximately 98% methyl orange dye in 30 min. This is a consequence of the synergistic interactions between the p-n heterojunction formed at the Cu2O-ZnO interfaces and the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of the Ag nanoparticles, which broaden the visible light absorption range and effectively separate the photogenerated charge carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of an empirical study examining the relationship between manufacturing strategy and competitive performance of Vietnamese manufacturers, with focus on the technology factor of manufacturing strategy. Statistical techniques were used to analyze the data collected from 25 manufacturing enterprises, and the qualitative research method was employed to enrich the captured results. Findings indicate the positive impact that manufacturing strategy (together with its components namely competitive priorities and technology choices) has on firm’s competitive performance. Two case studies also provided more in-depth knowledge of the development and implementation of manufacturing strategy at Vietnamese manufacturers. From there, recommendations are proposed for management to better implement manufacturing strategy and utilize technology in order to improve competitive performance.

Purpose - Leadership plays a decisive role in key organizational outcomes. To investigate the effects of leadership and its mechanism on organizational performance, this paper examined how transformational leadership impacts followers’ trust for improving operational and financial performance in the case of Vietnamese firms. Design/Methodology - This study used the Structural Equation Modeling to assess the correlation among the constructs based on using survey data of 285 employees at 60 manufacturing and service companies. Findings - The findings revealed that employees' trust in leadership acts as a mediating mechanism in the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational performance. The transformational leadership style of leaders has greater effects on financial performance, while employee’s trust has larger effects on operational performance. This study calls attention to the importance of raising employee trust to link transformational leadership and organizational performance. Practical and theoretical implications - From a practical point of view, the paper brings more knowledge and insights for CEO/managers on the right pathway to enhance organizational performance. The paper also provides theoretical initiatives on the leadership theory and the new pathway to promote operational and financial performance.